1 THE ARMY OF THE PUNJAUB. 65
2 able material, and badly constructed. When the
3 horse is in motion, the legs and arms of the rider
4 wave backwards and forwards, right and left, by
5 way, as it were, of keeping time with the pace of
6 the animal bestridden. The horses are small,
7 meagre, and ill shaped, with the aquiline nose
8 which so peculiarly proclaims inferiority of breed.
9 In the field, the conduct of the Sikh cavalry has
10 generally corresponded with their appearance
11 and efficiency. They are totally deficient of firm-
12 ness in the hour of struggle, and only charge the
13 foe when a vast superiority of numerical force
14 gives them a sort of warranty of success. An
15 anecdote occurs to the writer at this moment,
16 which, as illustrating at once the efficiency of the
17 Sikh troopers and the character of Akbar Khan,
18 who afterwards became so famous in the annals
19 of warfare by his treachery towards the British
20 at Caubul, and by his total overthrow by the
21 gallant Sale, will probably be read with interest.
22 In an engagement at Peshawur, in 1837, be-
23 tween the Affghans and the Sikhs, the former
24 were at the commencement driven off" the field
25 into the defiles of the Khyber mountains. The
26 Sikh cavalry, embracing the favourable moment,
27 to the number of three thousand, dashed into the
28 Khyber in pursuit. The favourite son of Dost
29 Mahomed Khan had given battle in direct diso-